Barista Beats: Libertyville Cafe Playlists
There’s nothing like stepping into our Libertyville café and being greeted with the intoxicating scent of freshly brewed coffee and the friendly faces of our staff. But arguably one of the best parts of the experience is the song you get to jam out to while you sip your coffee. Our baristas have the freedom to curate their own playlists for our café, bringing their own personal flare to the shift. Have you ever wondered what they have next on the queue? We’ve gathered a few favorites from each of our Libertyville baristas (so you can curate a playlist of your own!):
Mel
Mel loves an artist who embodies wanderlust and is connected to nature, which is why a shift doesn’t go by without playing music by Gregory Alan Isakov and Adrianne Lenker. She appreciates lyrics that go deep – but don’t lose their indie-folk meets melancholy with an alt-rock edge. Some more favorites for Mel, “Open Season” by High Highs, “Instant Crush” by Cage The Elephant, and the New Abnormal album by The Strokes.
Emily
Bringing all the Indie folk and folk-pop tunes to the café, Emily is a huge fan of artists like Lizzy McAlpine, Taylor Swift and Hozier. She almost always has “Bloom” by Paper Kites on queue. Emily is a fan of warm and story-driven music but with a little soul and poetic feel to it! She also loves a trendy pop tune! Some additional go-to songs for Emily’s café playlist are “Horses” by Mallrat and “Massachusetts” by Jensen McRae.
Marissa
A lover of all things 2000s nostalgia, you’ve definitely heard Marissa play early hits by The Fray, John Mayer, and Keane. Her present-day songs of choice are “Dive” by Olivia Dean (a favorite artist!), “Low Pain Tolerance” by Abby Holliday, and “Thinking ‘Bout Love” by Wild Rivers. She enjoys modern emotional-pop with a soulful, throwback heart. She loves to play sounds she grew up on – and they still resonate!
Carl
Carl enjoys a wide spectrum of music, blending Japanese reggae, bluegrass, and indie rock together to curate his café playlist. He doesn’t let genre define his curious and groove-driven tunes that exude raw acoustic sounds and feel-good rhythms. He loves to play tunes like “Palomino” by Trampled by Turtles, “Seychelles” by Masayoshi Takanaka, and “One Punch” by Dry and Heavy. Chill and curious by nature, Carl loves to queue up something funky and unpredictable!
Rachel
Her music matches her vibe – laid-back and effortlessly cool – Rachel loves to play music that’s deep and warm. She loves timeless tones like Nick Drake alongside bands like Peach Pit. You’ll always catch her playing “Breezeblocks” By Alt-J, “Live Well” by Palace and “B-Side” by Khruangbin & Leon Bridges. She also loves music by Beach Fossils and The Strokes (also Maroon 5 when she’s in a goofy mood!). She’s got a retro taste for modern ears, and her sound is cool without even trying.
Yosihe
Yosihe loves high energy indie beats that bring about heartfelt reflection. He’s nostalgic for the 2010s Indie Golden Era, loving music from Two Door Cinema Club and Empire of the Sun. He’s always queuing up tunes from The Lumineers, The Fray and Noah Kahan, throwing in an approachable indie-folk sound. He’s the emotional-but-cool friend whose playlists feel like an indie movie soundtrack.
Marissa Cummings
On staff at our Libertyville café, Marissa loves befriending customers and making the perfect cup of coffee. When not behind the bar, she is usually exploring new coffee shops, curled up with a good mystery book and a warm miel in hand.